The Police has fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of Ghanaians protesting against what they claim to be infiltration of foreigners in the country’s voters’ register.
The incident which happened around the Holy Spirit Cathederal in Accra, was prompted by the protestors’ decision to change from an approved route for the peaceful march which is becoming chaotic, TV3’s reporter Komla Klutse reports.
The group intends to present a petition to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and Parliament but the Police says it will prevent them from doing so because of an order it secured from court restraining the group from picketing on the premises of the two institutions.
Some of the protestors, mainly from the pressure group, Let My Vote Count, were arrested by the Police. Scores of Police officers have arrived to beef up security at the area which is few metres away from the Electoral Commission. One person was said to have been injured during the confusion.
The man said to have been injured during the confusion
The area has currently been secured by the Police but the protestors say they will not back down on their decision as the Police wants them to.
They are demanding a total overhaul of the register, the main document use for the conduct of elections in Ghana.
There was disagreement between the organisers and the Police at the start of the protest, Komla Klutse reported. The group resisted attempts by the Police to lead them in the march but after back and forth, the police gave in on that decision.
The protest also attracted members of the Movement for Change, Alliance for Accountable Governance and other associations, started from the Nkrumah Gardens, near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle led by heavily armed Police.
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By Stephen Kwabena Effah/3news.com/Ghana
folllow @steviekgh